Device and method for pressing a tympan to a cylinder of a printing machine by means of pressing elements

ABSTRACT

A dressing is pressed against a surface of a cylinder of a printing machine by the use of pressing elements. Several such dressings may be arranged next to each other in the axial direction of the cylinder. The pressing elements, used in connection with one of the plurality of dressings, are operable independently of other pressing elements that are used in connection with other ones of the dressings. These pressing elements may be provided as roller elements. Additional pressing elements are located, spaced in a circumferential direction of the cylinder, from the other pressing elements. Those additional pressing elements may be positioned before, in a direction of cylinder rotation, the other pressing elements.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. patent application is the U.S. national phase, under 35 USC371, of PCT/DE2003/002651, filed Aug. 7, 2003; published as WO2004/020198 A2 and A3 on Mar. 11, 2004, and claiming priority to DE 10238 177.1, filed Aug. 21, 2002, the disclosures of which are expresslyincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device and to a method forpressing a dressing against a cylinder of a printing press with the aidof pressing elements . The pressing elements are operable independentlyof each other. Several dressings are arranged side-by-side in an axialdirection of the cylinder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A device and a method for pressing a dressing against a cylinder of aprinting press with the aid of a pressure strip extending along thecylinder, and having several segments each embodied in the form of a dieis known from DE 101 20 134 A1. Several dressings are arrangedside-by-side in an axial direction of the cylinder. The segments of thepressure strip associated with a dressing can be selectively actuated.

A device for use in pressing a dressing against a cylinder of a printingpress, with the aid of several rolling elements, in particular with theaid of several rollers arranged along the cylinder, is known from EP 0712 725 A2.

WO 01/87613 A1 describes a method and several embodiments of a devicefor pressing a dressing against a cylinder of a printing press. Severalrollers are pressed against the cylinder by an actuating assembly duringmounting and dismounting of a dressing. The actuating assembly can beconfigured as a reversibly deformable hollow body, such as, for examplea tube, which can be charged with a pressure medium. By charging thehollow body with the pressure medium, a rigid roller support, which isembodied substantially in the form of a die, is pressed against thecylinder, against the force of a spring. In one preferred embodiment,the roller support is embodied either as a rocker or as a one-armedlever. In addition to the first rollers, which are spaced apart fromeach other and which can be placed against the cylinder for mountingfresh or new dressings, another preferred embodiment of this priordevice provides a plurality of second rollers, which second rollers canbe placed against the cylinder for use in dismounting dressings. Twoactuating assemblies, which can be operated independently of each other,can be provided for placing the first and second rollers against thecylinder.

A device for use in pressing a dressing against a cylinder of a printingpress, with the aid of first and second rolling elements which arearranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction of thecylinder, is known from DE 196 39 800 C1. The first and second rollingelements can only be placed against or moved away from the cylindertogether in this prior device.

A device for use in mounting flexible printing plates is known from DE197 19 559 A1. A pressure roller is arranged on a holder which isembodied, for example, as a leaf spring. The holder is connected with aninsertion slider. The insertion slider can be placed against a formecylinder by a linear movement and, in the process, introduces an end ofthe printing plate into a fastening slit cut into the forme cylinder.

A device for use in accomplishing the automatic feeding of printingplates to a cylinder is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,888. Two rollingelements, arranged one behind the other in the circumferential directionof the cylinder, are arranged on a rigid lever which can be jointlypivoted against the cylinder. One of the two rolling elements isarranged at the pivot point of the lever.

A manipulating device for use in automatically mounting or dismountingprinting plates on a cylinder is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,807. Agripper of the manipulating device has two rolling elements which arearranged one behind the other, in the cylinder circumferentialdirection, in a common frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is directed to providing devices foruse in pressing a dressing on a cylinder of a printing press with theaid of first and second rolling elements, which first and second rollingelements are spaced apart from each other in the circumferentialdirection of the cylinder, and to a method for tightening or bracing orfor slackening or removing such a dressing.

In accordance with the present invention, this object is attained by theuse of pressing elements which are usuable to contact one or the otherof several dressings that are arranged side-by-side in the axialdirection of a cylinder on which they are positioned. Pressing elementsassigned to one dressing can be placed against that dressing, or movedaway from it independently of other pressing elements assigned toanother dressing. The pressing elements can be rolling elements.Cooperating pressing elements for a dressing can be spacedcircumferentially in a direction of rotation of the cylinder.

The advantages to be gained by the present invention consist, inparticular, in that the device can be constructed to be very flat, andtherefore is configured in a space-saving manner, which is veryadvantageous because of the existing structural conditions of a printingpress. A preferably layered arrangement of the supports for the dressingelements results in that the device can also be constructed in a verycompact manner in the circumferential direction of the cylinder. Inspite of the use of rolling elements, which are arranged one behind theother in the circumferential direction of the cylinder, the total of twolever arms placed in series is not required as the structural space.Such required structural space is only slightly more than the length ofone lever arm.

Furthermore, the device in accordance with the present invention isresistant to dirt and is more rugged than an arrangement configured withsupports attached to a hinge, for example. Such a hinge, at the intendedinstallation location, must be protected against soiling, such as by inksplatters or dust, to facilitate its interference-free functioning,which protection entails an additional outlay.

The supports for the rolling elements in the present invention areconfigured as an elastically bendable body. In the course ofinteraction, with the actuating device acting on the support, noseparate spring element is required for use in returning the supportsinto their initial position after an operation of the actuating device.This is because the support has an inherent spring-back property.

In addition to the fact that by the use of the arrangement of thesupports and rolling elements, in accordance with the present invention,that a very flat structural shape is achieved, other functionaladvantages arise from the tandem arrangement of the rolling elements.Thus, dressings resting on the surface area of the cylinder can remainfixed in place as needed by use of the first rolling element, althoughthe second rolling element also releases an end of a dressing or ends ofseveral dressings, i.e. does not press them on at this time. If, withrespect to a particular dressing, the first and the second rollingelements are placed against the cylinder, advantageous friction valuesand guide conditions result for delivering and transporting thisdressing.

A further advantage of the device in accordance with the presentinvention is the easy accessibility of the actuating assembly for use inpressing dressings against a cylinder. This ease of accessibility is ofparticular importance if a large number of rolling elements, with theirsupports, are to be placed against, and moved away from the cylinderindependently of each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are represented in thedrawings and will be described in greater detail in what follows.

Shown are in:

FIG. 1, a schematic depiction of a side elevation view of a device forpressing a dressing against a cylinder of a printing press with the aidof rolling elements in accordance with the present invention, in

FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, schematic side elevation views showing the progressionof a method for bracing or tightening a flexible dressing on a cylinderof a printing press with the aid of rolling elements which are arrangedon elastically bendable supports, all in accordance with the presentinvention, in

FIGS. 5 and 6, schematic side elevation views and showing a method steputilized when releasing a flexible dressing from a cylinder of aprinting press with the aid of rolling elements arranged on elasticallybendable supports, and in

FIG. 7, a schematic depiction of one arrangement of an assignment ofseparate ones of rolling elements, arranged on second supports, toseveral dressings applied side-by-side on a cylinder while one of thesedressings is being removed, all in accordance with the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially primarily to FIG. 1, a dressing 01 is brought to acylinder 02 of a printing press, for example to a cylinder 02 of aweb-fed rotary offset printing press by suitable apparatus, which is notspecifically shown. The dressing 01 can be, for example, a flexibledressing, and, in particular, can be an elastically flexible printingforme 01, which is to be placed on a forme cylinder 02. A suspension leg03 a, which is beveled or angled off at a leading end of the dressing01, is suspended, and preferably is positively connected, to acooperatively configured first wall 04 of a preferably slit-shapedopening 07 that is cut into or is otherwise provided in a surface area06 of the cylinder 02. If the dressing 01 extends over the entirecircumference of the cylinder 02, a single such opening 07, as depictedin FIG. 1, in the cylinder 02 may be sufficient. In a situation ofseveral dressings 01, which are to be applied in the circumferentialdirection of the cylinder 02, several, preferably identically configuredopenings 07 are located in the cylinder 02 in an arrangement where theseseveral axially extending, essentially identical openings 07 are offsetalong the cylinder circumference. With two dressings 01 situated in thecircumferential direction of cylinder 02, the two required openings 07are arranged circumferentially offset by 180°, with respect to eachother, for example. In this case of two dressings 01, a suspension leg03 a at the leading end of the one dressing 01 is fastened in the firstopening 07, as seen in FIG. 1 while a suspension leg 03 b at thetrailing end of the same dressing 01 is fastened in the other opening07, which is not specifically represented in FIG. 1. With a 6/2 printingpress, the preferred arrangement of dressings consists of two dressings01 in the circumferential direction of the cylinder 02, and sixside-by-side arranged dressings 01 in the axial direction of thecylinder 02.

The opening 07 in the cylinder circumferential surface area 06 leads toa channel 08 that is extending axially along the cylinder 02, and inwhich channel 08 a plate end holding device, for example a clampingdevice, is located, which plate end holding device consistssubstantially of a holding member 12, that is pivotably seated in agroove 11 on the bottom 09 of the channel 08, as well as of a springelement 14 clamped between a wall 13 of the channel 08 and the holdingmember 12, as seen in FIG. 1. The holding member 12, which isadvantageously embodied as a rigid lever, is pivotable, counter to, oragainst, the force of the spring element 14, by an actuating device 16which is also supported in the channel 08 and which actuating device 16is usable for releasing a clamped connection provided by the holdingmember 12 on the second wall 17 of the opening 07. Thus, the holdingmember 12 has a holding position as its operating position, whichholding position, in particular, is a clamping position, and also has arelease position. Such a clamping device is described, for example in DE100 58 996 C1, and which corresponds to U.S. 2004/050276. For thepurpose of explaining further details of the clamping device and itsfunction, reference is expressly made to the above mentioned document,whose disclosure is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

A holder 21, such as, for example a cross arm 21, and which is extendingalong in the axial direction of cylinder 02, is provided in the vicinityof the cylinder 02 and is spaced at a distance from the cylinder 02. Adevice for use in pressing a dressing 01 against the cylinder 02 of theprinting press, with the aid of pressing elements 31, 32, preferablyrolling elements 31, 32, is arranged on the holder 21. These plural,spaced rolling elements 31, 32, as may be seen in FIG. 7, can be placedagainst the cylinder 02, or can be moved away from it. A first support22 with a first support first end 23 and with a first support second end24; and a second support 26, with a second support first end 27 and witha second support second end 28, are provided on holder 21. In oneembodiment, the first end 23 of the first support 22 is fixedlyconnected with the cross arm or holder 21 that is extending axiallyalong, and spaced from, the cylinder 02. At least one first rollingelement 31 is arranged on the second end 24 of the first support 22. Thefirst end 27 of the second support 26 is also connected with the firstsupport 22, preferably with second end 24 of the first support 22, asseen in FIG. 1, and preferably in a fixed manner. The first support 22and the second support 26 are substantially arranged layered one on topof the other. The first end 27 of the second support 26 preferablyterminates flush with the second end 24 of the first support 22. Atleast one second rolling element 32 is arranged on the second end 28 ofthe second support 26. The first rolling element 31 and the secondrolling element 32 are thus arranged spaced apart from each other, andare positioned one behind the other in the circumferential direction ofthe cylinder 02. As can be seen in all of the drawings, a so-calleddouble-roller or tandem roller arrangement results. The term tandemroller arrangement in this context indicates that two substantiallyidentical structural components, comprised here of the first and secondpressing elements or rolling elements 31 and 32, respectively, arearranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction of thecylinder 02.

For use in placing the rolling elements 31, 32 against the cylinder 02or for moving them away from it, a first actuation device 33, acting onthe first element 22, and a second actuating device 34, acting on thesecond support 26, are provided. The first actuating device 33, and thesecond actuating device 34 can be actuated independently of each other.The achievement of such an independent placement of the rolling element31, 32 against or away from the cylinder, by use of the independentlyoperable actuating devices 33, 34 is of particular benefit when severaldressings 01 have been arranged side-by-side in the axial direction onthe cylinder 02, and it is intended to selectively clamp or to releasethese dressings 01 individually. During the removal of a single dressing01, for example, the remaining dressings 01 can be securely maintainedon the cylinder 02 by the use of rolling elements 31, 33 appropriatelyplaced against them even if a common holding member 12 of a holdingdevice, which holding member 12 is arranged for concurrently holdingseveral dressings 01, is opened and thus releases the fastening ofseveral of the dressings 01 situated on the cylinder 02.

The two actuating devices 33, 34 are each embodied, for example, in theform of a reversibly deformable hollow body, such as, for example a tube33, 34, which tube 33, 34 can be charged with a pressure medium. Forexample, the first actuating device 33, acting on the first support 22,can be supported on a rigid stop 29, which is fixedly connected with thecross arm 21 or which has been formed on it, since the first actuatingdevice 33, in particular, is arranged between the cross arm 21, orbetween the stop 29, and the first support 22. The second actuatingdevice 34, acting on the second support 26, is preferably arrangedbetween the first support 22 and the second support 26 and is preferablysupported on the first end 23 of the first support 22, which first end23 of first support 22 is connected with the cross arm 21. It isadvantageous to embody the second support 26 to be longer than the firstsupport 22. This results in an excess projection of second support 26with such an excess projection being sufficient in length that thesecond rolling element 32, arranged on the second end 28 of the secondsupport 26, can be positioned laterally with respect to the cross arm 21during the non-actuated state of the second actuation device 34, andpreferably without the second rolling element 32 touching the cross arm21.

It is of particular advantage to embody each of the supports 22, 26 inthe form of an elastically bendable, preferably reversibly deformablebody, and in particular, in the shape of a blade, for example as aresilient sheet metal piece 22, 26. If, by operating a associatedactuating devices 33, 34, an associated one of the supports 22, 26 canbe elastically bent, for placing a rolling element 31, 32 against thecylinder 02, no additional devices are required for moving the rollingelements 31, 32 arranged on the supports 22, 26 away from the cylinderafter an actuation of the associated actuating device 33, 34 has ceased.In this preferred embodiment, the supports 22, 26 each spring back intotheir original positions without the further imposition of forces actingfrom the outside.

The rolling elements 31, 32 can each be embodied as a roll 31, 32 or asa roller 31, 32. Several such first supports 22, each with at least onefirst rolling element 31, can be arranged side-by-side on the cross arm21, in the axial direction of cylinder 02, wherein these first rollingelements 31 can each be placed against or can be moved away from thecylinder 02 independently of each other. Such movement of the severalaxially side-by-side arranged first rolling elements 31 can either beaccomplished individually or in groups by the appropriate actuation ofthe first actuating device 33 assigned to each of the supports 22. Inthe same way, it can be advantageous to arrange several second supports26, each with at least one second rolling element 32, side-by-sideaxially with respect to cylinder 02 on the first support 22. Thesesecond rolling elements 32 can be placed against or can be moved awayfrom the cylinder 02 independently of each other also eitherindividually or in groups by the appropriate actuation of the secondactuating device 34 assigned to each of the supports 26. A preferredembodiment of the present invention provides that one first roller 31,extending axially along the cylinder 02, and that several secondsupports 26, each with at least one roll 32, are arranged on the firstsupport 22. This embodiment becomes particularly useful in the casewhere the cylinder 02 has several dressings 01 located side-by-side onits cylinder surface area 06, and a second support 26, each with atleast one second rolling element 32, is assigned to each dressing 01.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the device for pressing a dressing 01 against a cylinder 02of a printing press can be configured in such a way that a plurality ofdressings 01 can be arranged on the cylinder 02 side-by-side in theaxial direction, wherein first and second pressing elements 31, 32,assigned to a first dressing 01, can be placed against, or can be movedaway from a cylinder 02 independently of first and second pressingelements 31, 32 assigned to another dressing 01. This device isdistinguished in that the first and second pressing elements 31, 32 areembodied as rolling elements, and in particular are embodied as rollers31, 32. In this case, the first and second pressing elements 31, 32, orthe first and second rolling elements 31, 32 can be placed against thecylinder 02 at least intermittently during its rotation. Or, the devicefor pressing a dressing 01 against a cylinder 02 of a printing presswith the aid of rolling elements 31, 32 can have several first rollingelements 31, as well as several second rolling elements 32 located inthe axial direction of the cylinder 02. The second rolling elements 32are arranged spaced apart, in the circumferential direction of thecylinder 02, from the first rolling elements 31. This case is alsodistinguished in that individual ones of the second rolling elements 32,or groups of the second rolling elements 32, can be placed against thecylinder 02, or can be moved away from it, independently of individualones or groups of first rolling elements 31. It is also possible toplace all of the first rolling elements 31 against the cylinder.Selected ones of the second rolling elements 32 can be placed against orcan be moved away from the cylinder 02.

From a review of the sequence of operation depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4, itis possible to understand a method for bracing or for tightening aflexible dressing 01 on a cylinder 02 of a printing press in accordancewith the present invention, and with the aid of the first and secondrolling elements 31, 32, which are arranged, spaced apart in thecircumferential direction of the cylinder 02 and which are supported atends of the supports 22, 26, which are preferably elastically bendable.The dressing 01 has suspension legs 03 a, 03 b beveled off its ends, andthe cylinder 02 has an opening 07 cut into its surface area 06, whichopening 07 has a first wall 04 and a second wall 17. The opening 07leads to a channel 08 which is provided with a holding device includinga holding member 12 arranged therein. Channel 08 is arranged extendingaxially in the cylinder 02. The holding member 12 of the holding devicehas a holding position and a release position as its operatingpositions. The method in accordance with the present invention isdistinguished by the following method steps:

While the first and second rolling elements 31, 32 are all moved awayfrom the surface area 06 of the cylinder 02, a suspension leg 03 alocated at the leading end of the dressing 01 is brought, preferablytangentially, against the surface area 06 of the cylinder 02 and issuspended on the first wall 04 of the opening 07 that is cut into thesurface area 06 of the cylinder 02, as may be seen in FIG. 1.

Thereafter, the rolling elements 31, 32 are placed against the cylinder02 by operating the actuating devices 33, 34, which actuating devices33, 34 are acting on their respective supports 22, 26. This step of themethod is depicted in FIG. 2.

In the next step, as shown in FIG. 3 and also in FIG. 4, the cylinder 02is rotated in the production direction P sufficiently far so that thesuspension leg 03 b on the trailing end of the dressing 01 rests on thesecond wall 17 of the cylinder opening 07, or on an identically embodiedsecond wall 17 of a second cylinder opening 07, which second cylinderopening 07 is arranged on the circumference of the cylinder 02 and isoffset circumferentially with respect to the first opening 07. The firstand second rolling elements 31, 32 press the dressing 01 against thesurface area 06 of the cylinder 02.

The second rolling element 32, which is located nearest the trailing endof the dressing 01, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, presses the suspension leg03 b into the opening 07, and the holding device 12 holding the trailingsuspension leg 03 b of the dressing 01 changes from its releaseposition, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, to its holding position, shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

Thereafter the rolling elements 31, 32 are moved away from the cylinder02. These rolling elements 31, 32 move away from the surface area 06 ofcylinder 02 by deactivation of the actuating devices 33, 34. Once theseactuating devices 33, 34 are no longer supplied with a fluid underpressure, they return to their deactivated states, as seen in FIG. 1.The rolling elements 31, 32 move away from cylinder 02 because of theresilient nature of their associated supports, 24, 26, respectively.

A method for releasing a flexible dressing 01 from a cylinder 02 of aprinting press in accordance with the present invention, with the aid ofrolling elements 31, 32 arranged on preferably elastically bendablesupports 22, 26 is depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6. A first rolling element 31is arranged on a first support 22, and a second rolling element 32 isarranged on a second support 26. Both of these first and second rollingelements 31, 32 are arranged spaced apart from each other in thecircumferential direction of the cylinder 02. Several dressings 01 canbe arranged side-by-side in the axial direction on the cylinder 02. Eachdressing 01 has suspension legs 03 a, 03 b beveled off its ends. Thecylinder 02 has at least one opening 07 cut into its surface area 06 andthis opening 07 has a first wall 04 and a second wall 17. The opening 07leads to a channel 08 arranged extending axially in the cylinder 02 andwith a holding device with a holding member 12 arranged in channel 08.The holding member 12 of the holding device has a holding position and arelease position as its operating positions. This method is representedin FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 and is distinguished by the following method steps:

The rolling elements 31, 32 are each placed against one or againstseveral dressings 01 resting on the surface area 06 of the cylinder 02.

The cylinder 02 is rotated until the second rolling element 32, arrangedon the second support 26, rests against the suspension leg 03 b of thetrailing end of a dressing 01 to be removed. This is shown in FIG. 4.

The second rolling element 32 resting against the suspension leg 03 b ofthe trailing end of the dressing 01 to be removed is now moved away fromthe cylinder 02 by deactuation of its actuating device 34, and theholding member 12 changes into its release position, preferably bypivoting. This is shown in FIG. 5. The suspension leg 03 b at thetrailing end of a dressing 01 to be removed from the cylinder 02automatically springs out of the opening 07 because of its internaltension. The suspension legs 03 b at the trailing ends of furtherdressings 01, which are also resting on the cylinder 02, remain pressedon to the cylinder surface 06 by the other second rolling elements 32pressing them against the second wall 17 of the opening 07. These othersecond rolling elements 32 are not moved by the deactuation of theactuating device 34 associated with the second rolling element 32 movedaway from its particular dressing trailing suspension leg 03 b.

Thereafter, the holding member 12 of the holding device preferablychanges back into its holding position, and the cylinder 02 is rotatedcounter to its production direction P until the suspension leg 03 a atthe leading end of the dressing 01 to be removed can be unhinged fromthe first wall 04 of the opening 07 and therefore can be removed fromthe cylinder 02.

A method for releasing a flexible dressing 01 from a cylinder 02 of aprinting press with the aid of rolling elements 31, 32 arranged onpreferably elastically bendable supports 22, 26, in which a firstrolling element 31 is arranged on a first support 22, and a secondrolling element 32 is arranged on a second support 26, in which bothrolling elements 31 are arranged spaced apart in the circumferentialdirection of the cylinder 02, in which several dressings 01 can bearranged side-by-side, preferably in the axial direction, on thecylinder 02, in which each dressing 01 has suspension legs 03 a, 03 bbeveled off its ends, in which the cylinder 02 has at least one opening07 cut into its surface area 06 and the opening 07 has a first wall 04and a second wall 17, in which the opening 07 leads to a channel 08arranged in the cylinder 02 with a holding device with a holding member12 arranged therein, and in which the holding member 12 of the holdingdevice has a holding position and a release position as its operatingpositions, can also be distinguished by the following method steps:

The first and second rolling elements 31, 32 have been moved away fromall dressings 01 resting on the surface area of the cylinder 02.

The cylinder 02 rotates until the second rolling elements 32 arranged onthe second support 26 are located above the suspension legs 03 b at thetrailing ends of the dressings 01. These second rolling elements 32 arethus out of contact with the suspension legs 03 b, but are still intheir near vicinity.

All of the first rolling elements 31 arranged on the first support 22are then placed against the cylinder 02, by which pressure, thedressings 01 are pressed against the surface area 06 of the cylinder 02at a distance from their trailing ends corresponding to the distancebetween the first rolling element 31 arranged on the first support 22and the second rolling element 32 arranged on the second support 26.

The holding member 12 of the holding device changes into its releaseposition, preferably by pivoting. The suspension legs 03 b at thetrailing ends of all dressings 01 automatically spring out of theopening 07 because of their internal tension. This is depicted in FIG.5.

Except for their trailing ends, the dressings 01 remain fixed on thesurface area 06 of the cylinder 02 because of the pressure exerted bythe first rolling elements 31 placed against the cylinder 02.

Except for those second rolling elements 32 located at the trailing endof a dressing 01 to be removed, now all of the second rolling elements32 arranged on the second support 26 are placed against the cylinder 02.The suspension legs 03 b at the trailing ends of all of the dressings 01resting on the cylinder 02, with the exception of the suspension leg 03b of the dressing 01 to be removed, are again placed against the secondwall 17 of the opening 07 by the second rolling elements 32 pressingthem against opening second wall 17.

Thereafter, the holding member 12 of the holding device changes into itsholding position, and all of the first and second rolling elements 31,32 are moved away from the cylinder 02.

The cylinder 02 now rotates counter to its production direction P untilthe suspension leg 03 a at the leading end of the dressing 01 to beremoved can be unhinged from the first wall 04 of the opening 07, andthus can be removed from the cylinder 02.

FIG. 7 shows the assignment of spaced ones of a plurality of secondrolling elements 32, arranged on several second supports 26, to severaldressings 01 applied side-by-side to a cylinder 02 in the course of theremoval of one of these dressings 01. In the example represented in FIG.7, three such second rolling elements 32 are assigned to each dressing01. These second rolling elements 32 for each dressing 01 can be placedagainst the cylinder 02, or can be moved away from the cylinder 02independently of the remaining first and second rolling elements 31, 32,while adjoining dressings 01, for example, are maintained pressedagainst the surface area 06 of the cylinder 02 by those remaining firstand second rolling elements 31, 32. Here, the first rolling element 31is a continuous roller 31, while the second rolling elements 32 eachconsist of several individual rollers 32. The first and second rollingelements 31, 32, respectively are arranged spaced apart from each otherin the circumferential direction of the cylinder 02. The first roller31, which forms the first rolling element 31, is in contact with all ofthe dressings 01 which rest side-by-side on the cylinder 02, while thetrailing end of the dressing 01 to be removed is being loosened. Withthe previously described methods, the first and second rolling elements31, 32, respectively are preferably placed against or are moved awayfrom the cylinder 02 by pneumatically operable actuating devices 33, 34.

A further method for removing a flexible dressing 01 from a cylinder 02of a printing press with the aid of rolling elements 31, 32, in which afirst rolling element 31 is arranged on a first support 22, and a secondrolling element 32 is arranged on a second support 26, in which bothrolling elements 31 are arranged spaced apart in the circumferentialdirection of the cylinder 02, in which several dressings 01 can bearranged side-by-side, preferably in the axial direction, on thecylinder 02, in which each dressing 01 has suspension legs 03 a, 03 bbeveled off its ends, in which the cylinder 02 has at least one opening07 cut into its surface area 06, which opening 07 has a first wall 04and a second wall 17, in which the opening 07 leads to a channel 08arranged in the cylinder 02 with a holding device with a holding member12 arranged in channel 08, in which the holding member 12 of the holdingdevice has a holding position and a release position as its operatingpositions, can also be distinguished by the following method steps:

The first and second rolling elements 31, 32 are placed against all ofthe dressings 01 resting on the surface area 06 of the cylinder 02.

The cylinder 02 rotates until the second rolling element 32 arranged onthe second support 26 is located above the opening 07 at the trailingend of a dressing 01 to be removed.

The holding member 12 of the holding device changes into its releaseposition.

The second rolling element 32 arranged on the second support 26 is movedaway from the cylinder 02 at the trailing end of a dressing 01 to beremoved. The suspension leg 03 b at the trailing end of the dressing 01to be removed is released from the opening 07 because of its internaltension, while the dressing 01 itself remains fixed in place on thesurface area 06 of the cylinder 02 because of the pressure of the firstrolling element 31. The trailing end of the dressing 01 to be removedtries to assume a stretched-out length, wherein this end of the dressing01 now remains in contact with the second rolling element 32 over adefined spring travel while springing out of the opening 07. Therefore,the end of the dressing 01 springing out of the opening 07 follows thesecond rolling element 32 as it is being lifted off the cylinder 02. Thesuspension legs 03 b of the remaining dressings 01 remain in the opening07, because the ends of these dressings 01 remain pressed against thesurface area 06 of the cylinder 02 by the second rolling element 32assigned to them. The length of a released end of a dressing 01 to beremoved from the cylinder 02 is defined by the distance of the contactpoint of the first rolling element 31 from the opening 07.

The holding member 12 of the holding device changes into its holdingposition, and all of the first and second rolling elements 31, 32, or atleast the first rolling element 31 in front in the production directionP, can be moved away from the cylinder 02. Thereafter, if required aftera rotation of the cylinder 02 counter to its production direction, thedressing 01 to be released can be removed from the surface area 06 ofthe cylinder 02.

A method for bracing or tightening a flexible dressing 01 on a cylinder02 of a printing press, with the aid of first and second rollingelements 31, 32, in which a first rolling element 31 and a secondrolling element 32 are provided, and in which both rolling elements 31,32 are arranged spaced apart from each other in the circumferentialdirection of the cylinder 02. And in which several dressings 01 arearranged side-by-side in the axial direction of cylinder 01 can also bedistinguished in that the first and second rolling elements 31, 32 areindividually or are in groups placed against the dressings 01 resting onthe surface area 06 of the cylinder 02 or are moved away from thesurface area 06 of cylinder 02.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method forpressing a dressing 01 against a cylinder 02 of a printing press withthe aid of pressing elements 31, 32 is furthermore provided. Severaldressings 01 can be arranged side-by-side in the axial direction on thecylinder 02. A pressing element 32 assigned to the dressing 01 to bepressed on to the cylinder 02 can be placed against or can be removedfrom the cylinder 02 independently of a pressing element 32 which isassigned to another dressing 01. These pressing elements 32, assigned tothe dressings 01, are arranged side-by-side in the axial direction ofthe cylinder 02. The method is distinguished in that at least onefurther dressing element 31, which is spaced apart from theabove-described pressing element 32, in the circumferential direction ofthe cylinder 02, and which is arranged leading in the productiondirection P of the cylinder 02, is placed against the dressing 01 to bepressed on. In connection with this method, the pressing element 31,which is arranged leading in the production direction P of the cylinder02 and which is to be placed against the dressing 01 to be pressed on,is preferably placed against the cylinder 02 at a time when the pressingelement 31, arranged to be trailing, is located on an opening 07 cutinto the cylinder 02, or close to this opening 07, as a result of arotary movement of the cylinder 02. A suspension leg 03 b at the end ofthe dressing 01 which trails, in the production direction P of thecylinder 02, is maintained in this opening 07. This is shown in FIG. 4.

The pressing element 32, which is arranged to be trailing in theproduction direction P of the cylinder 02 and which has been placedagainst the dressing 01 to be pressed on cylinder 02, is preferablymoved away from the cylinder 02 as soon as this pressing element 32 islocated on an opening 07 cut into the cylinder 02, or close to thisopening 07, as a result of a rotary movement of the cylinder 02. Aholding member 12, which holds a suspension leg 03 b at the end of thedressing 01 which is trailing in the production direction P of thecylinder 02 in this opening 07, changes from its holding position intoits release position. This is depicted in FIG. 5. Following the changingof the position of the holding member 12 holding the suspension leg 03in this opening 07, this suspension leg 03 can be released, preferablyautomatically, from the opening 07. The further pressing element 31,which is arranged leading in the production direction P of the cylinder02, preferably remains placed against the dressing 01 to be presseduntil this pressing element 31 is positioned on an opening 07 cut intothe cylinder 02, or close to this opening 07, because of a rotarymovement of the cylinder 02 directed counter to its production directionP. A suspension leg 03 a formed at the end of the dressing 01, whichsuspension leg 03 a end leads in the production direction P of thecylinder 02, is maintained in this opening 07. Accordingly, the dressing01 remains fixed in place on the cylinder 02 by the pressed on pressingelement 31, that is arranged leading in the production direction P ofthe cylinder 02, until the suspension leg 03 a at the end of thedressing 01 which is arranged to lead in the production direction P ofthe cylinder 02 can be removed from the opening 07.

A method for pressing a dressing 01 against a cylinder 02 of a printingpress, in which several dressings 01 can be arranged side-by-side on thecylinder 02 in its axial direction, can provide that at least onerolling element 32, which presses on a dressing 01 to be braced on thecylinder 02, is placed against the cylinder 02 at the start of thebracing process and is only moved away from the cylinder 02 at thetermination of the bracing process. In the course of this, dressings 01which have beveled suspension legs 03 a, 03 b at their ends, whichbeveled suspension legs 03 a, 03 b are provided for being suspended in apreferably slit-shaped opening 07 cut into the cylinder 02, arepreferably used. At the start of the bracing or attachment process, thesuspension leg 03 a at the end of the dressing 01 which leads in theproduction direction P of the cylinder 02 is suspended in the opening07. At the termination of the bracing process, the suspension leg 03 bat the end which trails in the production direction P of the cylinder 02is suspended in the opening 07. Advantageously a holding member 12,which holds the suspension leg 03 b at the end which trails in theproduction direction P of the cylinder 02, then changes from a releaseposition into a holding position. Preferably, the rolling element 32 ismoved away from the cylinder 02 after the change of the holding member12 from its release position into its holding position. With thismethod, the cylinder 02 is rotated in its production direction Pfollowing the suspension of the suspension leg 03 a, at the end ofdressing 01 leading in the production direction P of the cylinder 02, inopening 07 until the suspension leg 03 b at the end of dressing 01trailing in the production direction P of the cylinder 02 can besuspended in opening 07. Preferably, the rolling element 32, assigned tothe dressing 01 to be braced or attached, is placed against the cylinder02, or is moved away from the cylinder 02, independently of a rollingelement 32 that is assigned to another dressing 01. Preferably, severalrolling elements 32, which are assigned to the dressings 01, arearranged side-by-side in the axial direction of the cylinder 02. It canbe provided that, at the start of the bracing or dressing attachmentprocess, that only the rolling element 32 assigned to the dressing 01 tobe braced is placed against the latter.

While preferred embodiments of a device and method for pressing adressing to a cylinder of a printing machine by use of pressingelements, in accordance with the present invention, have been set forthfully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill inthe art that various changes in, for example, the overall sizes of thecylinder, the source of pressurized fluid for the actuating devices, andthe like could be made without departing from the true spirit and scopeof the present invention which is accordingly to be limited only by theappended claims.

1-29. (canceled)
 30. A device for pressing a dressing against a cylinderof a printing press comprising: a plurality of pressing elementssupported adjacent the cylinder, at least one of said pressing elementsbeing engageable with one of a plurality of dressings arrangedside-by-side in an axial direction of the cylinder independently ofother ones of said plurality of printing elements, each said pressingelement being embodied as a rolling element; a support for each one ofsaid plurality of printing elements, each said support being embodied asan elastically bendable body; and an actuating means associated witheach said support, each said actuating means being adapted to be chargedwith a pressure medium, each said actuating means, upon actuation, beingoperable to deflect an associated one of said supports to place saidrolling element carried by said support against a dressing on thecylinder by elastic bending of said support, each said support, upon anend of said actuation, moving said supported rolling element away fromthe cylinder.
 31. The device of claim 30 wherein said supports move awayfrom said cylinder at said end of said actuation by operation of saidelastically bendable body.
 32. The device of claim 30 wherein there aresix dressings in said axial direction of the cylinder.
 33. The device ofclaim 30 wherein there are two dressings in a circumferential directionof the cylinder.
 34. The device of claim 30 wherein said at least one ofsaid pressing elements engageable with a dressing includes leading andtrailing pressing elements spaced from each other circumferentially withrespect to a production direction of rotation of the cylinder.
 35. Thedevice of claim 30 wherein said rolling element is one of a roll and aroller.
 36. The device of claim 34 including a first one of saidsupports for said leading pressing element and a second one of saidsupports for said trailing pressing element.
 37. The device of claim 36further including a holder spaced from the cylinder, said first supportbeing connected to said holder.
 38. The device of claim 36 wherein saidsecond support is connected to said first support.
 39. The device ofclaim 37 further including a rigid stop on said holder, said actuatingmeans acting on said first support being supported by said rigid stop.40. The device of claim 36 further including one of said actuating meansbetween said first support and said second support.
 41. The device ofclaim 30 wherein each said actuating means is a reversibly deformablehollow body.
 42. The device of claim 30 wherein each said support is inthe shape of a blade.
 43. The device of claim 30 wherein each saidsupport is a resilient metal piece.
 44. A method for pressing a dressingagainst a cylinder of a printing press including: providing a pluralityof dressings arranged side-by-side in an axial direction on thecylinder; assigning at least a first pressing element to each of saiddressings; arranging said first printing element assigned to all of saiddressings arranged side-by-side in said axial direction of saidcylinder; supporting said at least first pressing element assigned toeach said dressing for moving toward and away from said cylinderindependently of a remainder of said pressing elements assigned to otherones of said dressings; providing at least one further pressing elementspaced in a circumferential direction of said cylinder from said firstpressing element and leading said first printing element in a directionof production rotation of said cylinder; and placing said at least onefurther pressing element against said one of said dressings to bepressed on said cylinder.
 45. The method of claim 44 further includingproviding a dressing end receiving opening in said cylinder, providing atrailing suspension leg on said dressing, pressing said at least firstpressing element against said dressing adjacent said opening in saidcylinder for maintaining said dressing trailing suspension leg in saidopening, and pressing said further pressing element against saiddressing as soon as said first pressing element is in engagement withsaid dressing.
 46. The method of claim 44 further including providing adressing end suspension leg holding member in said opening, said holdingmember having holding and release positions, moving said furtherpressing element away from said dressing to be pressed on said cylinderwhen said cylinder is rotated so that said further pressing element ispositioned along said opening and said holding member is in said releaseposition.
 47. The method of claim 46 further including maintaining saidfurther pressing element placed against said dressing until said furtherpressing element is located at said opening, a suspension leg at aleading end of said dressing being maintained in said opening.
 48. Amethod for pressing a dressing against a cylinder of a printing pressincluding: placing several dressings arranged side-by-side in an axialdirection of the cylinder; providing a plurality of dressing engageablerolling elements arranged side-by-side in said axial direction of thecylinder; assigning at least one of said plurality of rolling elementsto each said dressing; engaging one of said rolling elements with itsassociated one of said dressing at a start of a dressing attachmentprocess; maintaining said one of said rolling elements in contact withsaid associated one of said dressings during said attachment process;and moving each said one of said plurality of rolling elements towardand away from its associated one of said dressings independently ofothers of said plurality of rolling elements.
 49. The method of claim 48further including providing said dressings with suspension legs at endsof said dressings and providing a dressing end leg receiving opening inthe cylinder.
 50. The method of claim 49 further including suspending adressing leading end suspension leg in said opening at said start ofsaid dressing attachment process.
 51. The method of claim 49 furtherincluding suspending a dressing trailing suspension leg in said openingat an end of said dressing attachment process.
 52. The method of claim51 further including providing a dressing end holding member in saidopening and changing said holding member from a release position to aholding position at said end of said dressing attachment process. 53.The method of claim 52 further including moving said rolling elementaway from said cylinder after placing said holding members in saidholding position.
 54. The method of claim 49 further includingsuspending a leading one of said dressing end suspension legs in saidopening, rotating said cylinders in a cylinder production direction, andsuspending a trailing one of said dressing end suspension legs in saidopening.